Historical Figures and Ancient Heads

AMG Review of Historical Figures and Ancient Heads

James Chrispell
All Music Guide

Adding Joel Scott Hill to the band, Canned Heat was infused with a bit of much-needed new blood. While nothing here found favor with AM radio, FM saw fit to include such cuts as "Cherokee Dance," "Utah," and the Heat's collaboration with Little Richard, "Rockin' with the King." Full of the usual boogie, Historical Figures and Ancient Heads still comes off as a rather pale reminder of just how bluesy this band once was. New blood or not, this disc didn't do much in the way of revitalizing Canned Heat's faltering career -- they appear to have become old before their time.